State Senator Marc Basnight is continuing his campaign to have plastic bags removed from all stores in North Carolina.
At first Basnight’s goal was to remove the bags from stores on the Outer Banks Counties, but if this bill is successful, then it could be a law that would be imposed all over the state.
In place of plastic bags would be bags that are made of 100% recycled paper.
The Bill to have plastic bags removed from Dare, Hyde, and Currituck counties was passed on Wednesday. The bill will only apply to retail outlets of more than 5000 square feet and with more than five stores in the state. “We sell beauty on the Outer Banks,” Basnight said. “We want people to come to our community to spend time, to see sunsets, shoreline, water, but you also see these flimsy bags on the shoreline, on the Wright Brothers Memorial.”
It seems the bill is being backed by politicians in both political parties, and environmentalists also back the bill, pointing out that plastic bags require energy to make and usually end up in landfills.
Senator Stan Bingham, a Davidson County Republican who drives a vegetable oil-fueled car, shrugged at Basnight’s proposal. “If that is what the county wants, that’s fine,” he said. What about taking this bill statewide? “Then we’ll talk,” said Bingham. “In my district they’re more concerned about a job than plastic bags.”
